WHEN Santa arrived by helicopter at the Country Homes & Gardens centre at Winnersh on Saturday, he was expecting to be met by his usual mode of transport – reindeer Rudolph and his pals.

But a crash on the M4 meant Rudolph, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen were unable to arrive until later in the day, and Santa had to walk the few yards between the helipad and his grotto in the centre.

Luckily his arrival was not subdued, thanks to the hundreds of children and their parents who had turned out to see him touch down.

Santa will be in his grotto at the Reading Road garden centre every Saturday until Christmas between 10.30am and 4pm.

The centre also has around 2,500 Christmas trees for sale, as well as scores of decorations and lots of gifts up for grabs.